A autobiography dealing with Frederick Douglass’s experiences as a slave
Was told to go into woods with oxen and retrieve wood however he managed to crash the cart twice and merely escaped death, was whipped good by Mr. Covey(the slave breaker) in response
Lived with Mr. Covey for a year, received many whippings
Mr. Covey snuck up on his slaves which made the slaves be aware of him even if he wasn’t there
They worked from sunrise to sunset, this was the hardest time in Douglass’s life as a slave
Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking Frederick mentally and physically
Sunday’s were the only off day, some light came to him on those days , but faded quickly , life on plantation seemed like a dream
One day he could no longer continue his work, he was hit in the head by Covey and then started off for St. Michaels were his owner lived
Once got there he appealed to Master Thomas but was given little sympathy and forced to return , was given salts
Went back and Mr. Covey threatened him so he hid and found refuge with Sandy Jenkins
Was given the advice to follow Sandy into the woods and take a root from the woods
He walked back to the plantation on Sunday with the root and Covey didn’t proceed to lay a finger on him
The next morning he was asked to take out horses, but retaliated by fighting back against Mr. Covey, after this point he found the light and way he could escape slavery,
No longer was he repressed but his spirit was released, he’d reached his darkest point and found the way out.
This experiacne made him realize that even if he was still physically a slave he would no longer be a slave spiritually or mentally.
Connects with slavery in general and gives a first hand experiance of slavery, and helps to correct common misconceptions about slavery
Nate Moran
Kyle Peters
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass